The brain is the command centre of the human body. Yet, when a baby is born, his brain weighs only around 370 grams[1], about a quarter of the weight adult brain’s weight. Considering that a newborn weighs only 3.2kg to 3.5kg − give or take a few grams – 370 grams accounts for a large percentage of the infant’s total body weight. The brain gets to work immediately after birth. Right from the moment the child is born, the brain grows by about 1% each day for the next three months before it slows down to a rate of 0.4% per day. By this point, the baby’s brain would have grown 64% larger than it was at birth.

What has taken place is a multitude of developments that is nothing short of miraculous. Neural connections would have multiplied making trillions of connections or synapses a day, and brain cells would have grown, matured and migrated to different parts of the brain. During the first three months of life, the number of neurons in the cerebral cortex − the outer layer of the brain − would have increased between 23% to 30%.

By the time the child is three years old, his brain would have grown to 80% of the adult brain size[2] and weight and by the time he is five, the brain would have reached about 90% of its adult size.

Given this miraculous transformation in the small window of time, here are 11 more fascinating facts about how the brain grows in your toddler and why it is so important to make use of this precious time for his optimal learning and development.

1: Born with 100 billion brain cells

Your baby’s brain is made up of different areas that control everything they do from hearing, smelling and vision to crawling, walking and holding a spoon to talking, to problem-solving to how they feel. Each area of the brain has millions of brain cells or neurons which make connections to each other through synapses. Your newborn’s brain has about 100 billion brain cells but at the time of birth, very few of them are connected. These neurons only start making connections after birth. It is your interaction, love and affection that will help the brain cells make their “wiring” or connections A and shape how the brain will function. By the time your child is two years old, his brain would be making 700 new connections every second[3].

2: The fastest-growing ‘Little Brain’

The cerebellum – which is Latin for “little brain” − is located at the back of the head near the brain stem. Why it is called the “little brain” is because it is regarded as the fastest of all the brain structures to develop in a child. The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements such as motor skills (rolling over, crawling, standing and walking), balance, coordination, posture as well as speech, vision[4] and eye movement. The cerebellum more than doubles its volume[5] by the time the baby is three months of age and contains more neurons than any other brain region. By the time a baby is four to six months old, he would be able to hold his head up without support and sit up with a little bit of help, while being able to reach out, grab and grip small objects with his fingers.

3: The slowest-to-mature prefrontal cortex

Although the brain grows to 90% of its adult size by the time the child is five years old, it only finishes developing and maturing when the person is in his mid-to-late 20s. The part of the brain behind the forehead called the prefrontal cortex is one of the last parts to mature[6]. This area of the brain is responsible for executive functions involving attention regulation, memory processing, prioritizing, impulse-control, managing emotional reactions, predicting the consequences of one’s actions and planning for the future.

4: The child’s brain makes twice as many synapses than adults

By the age of two or three, a child’s brain will have twice as many synapses[7] between their brain cells (neurons) as they would have in adulthood. They will form 700 new synapses per second[8]! This means that the child is learning a lot and much of what he learns is learnt through what he sees, hears and experiences. This amount of synapses not only make the brain highly receptive to absorbing information and experiences but also highly vulnerable to neglect or adversity. Knowing that adversity will impact his development, give your children good health, good nutrition and nurturing as these factors are especially important during this time period.

5: Each part of the child’s brain has a different job to do

Each part of the child’s brain does a different job. The lower brain governs functions that the child needs to do to stay alive like feeding, breathing and movement[9]. The middle brain is responsible for emotions like fear, bonding, anger and joy. The higher brain helps the child become self-aware, have empathy and imagination. It is also for helping him make decisions and control or calm down emotions like anger. However, before the age of three, the child’s rational brain is still developing. He will still need you to help him calm down when he gets angry.

6: Toddlers learn through imitation

Toddlers are highly attuned to social cues and behaviours and are always learning by observing and imitating others. This means that parents and the people around him play an important role in shaping a toddler’s behaviour and development. The child will imitate their behaviours, expressions and feelings as well as facial expressions[10]. If you are happy, he will imitate your happiness and if you are agitated and angry, he will mirror your frown and anger. This makes it important to model positive behaviours such as calmness, kindness and empathy. When you do that, you can help promote these traits in your toddler.

7: A child’s brain burns up almost 50% of the body’s energy

The developing brain uses up a lot of energy. According to a study[11], a toddler’s brain uses up to 43%, almost half, of the body’s energy to function. In fact, a newborn’s brain uses 60% of the body’s energy[12]. He may be sleeping most of the time but the brain is working hard while he sleeps. This explains why humans are at their leanest during early childhood. Half of all the energy and fat he consumes through food is used by the brain to function, learn, make synapses, grow and develop. This high energy demand persists until age seven when the body begins to use less energy.

8: What the child’s brain needs to develop well

Neural connections in the brain are formed in response to experiences. At a time when the brain is forming these connections, the toddler’s environment and experiences, whether good or bad, can have a huge and lasting impact on its development. Your child’s brain needs you to provide the following[13] to develop well: Love and attention, positive experiences, fun activities, a safe calm and loving home, a predictable household routine, and a healthy diet.

Click on this link to read more about Brain Growth[14] and how to optimise its development in your child.

9: Sleep is crucial for toddler brain development

A toddler needs an average of 11 to 14 hours of sleep per day[15], including naps to support healthy brain development. When a child sleeps, it allows the brain to process and consolidate new information and experiences, and also grow. Sleep affects learning and behaviour through specific brain changes. In a study[16], it was found that children who had insufficient sleep have smaller volumes in certain areas of the brain for attention, memory and inhibition control, compared to those with healthy sleep habits.

10: Play gives opportunities for the child to learn

Play gives children many opportunities to think and solve problems[17]. How to stack blocks so they don’t fall? How to fit in the pieces of a jigsaw to complete the puzzle? Whether he is playing with pots and pans, spoons and cups, his brain is constantly learning from banging, dropping, taking things out and putting them back together again. Children are the “first scientists” as they say. By stacking things up, bringing them down or knocking them together just to hear the sound, they make discoveries about how the world works around them.

11: Nutrition plays a crucial role in toddler brain development

The food your child eats directly impacts toddler brain development[18]. A balanced diet rich in Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids such as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Arachidonic acid (ARA), Inositol – a form of sugar that helps with neurotransmitter activity and messaging in the brain, choline, folic acid and zinc, to name a few nutrients, can support healthy brain growth and function. From foods like fish especially fatty fish which is full of Vitamin D and Omega 3s, eggs which are rich in protein as well as choline, yoghurt and other diary which provide healthy fat and protein, leafy greens which are rich in vitamins K,C,E, and folic acid as well as nuts and seeds which are packed with protein, fatty acids and minerals, all of them make a great diet for brain development in toddlers.

Morinaga Chil-kid

If you are ever worried that your child may be missing out on nutrients that he needs to consume for optimal brain development, Morinaga Chil-kid may provide the answer. Formulated in Japan and wholly produced in the Netherlands, Morinaga Chil-kid is a carefully-balanced, nutrient-dense growing up milk formula that will provide all the essential nutrients your child will need to meet their daily Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI), when complemented with food.

Packed with 45 essential nutrients such as DHA, ARA, Inositol[19], GOS, 5 Nucleotides, Omega 3&6 and 27 vitamins and minerals including choline, folic acid, zinc and much more, the new enhanced Morinaga Chil-kid with zero sucrose, is especially suitable for Asian children aged one to seven.

To learn more about Inositol, read the article on its benefits and functions here[20].

Morinaga Chil-kid goes through a double inspection process and rigorous European Union (EU) quality control standards before it is released into the market.

[1]Galinato, M. (n.d.). The first years of life. https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/brain-development/2019/the-first-years-of-life-092419
[2]First Things First. (2024, December 8). Brain development - first things first. https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/brain-development/
[3]Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing | GOV.WALES. (n.d.). GOV.WALES. https://www.gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time/your-childs-development/understanding-why-your-childs-brain-is-so-amazing
[4]MSEd, K. C. (2023, May 12). The location and function of the cerebellum in the brain. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-cerebellum-2794964
[5]Galinato, M. (n.d.). The first years of life. https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/brain-development/2019/the-first-years-of-life-092419
[6]The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know
[7]Brain development - SC first steps. (n.d.). https://www.scfirststeps.org/why-it-matters/brain-development/
[8]Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing | GOV.WALES. (n.d.). GOV.WALES. https://www.gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time/your-childs-development/understanding-why-your-childs-brain-is-so-amazing

[9]Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing | GOV.WALES. (n.d.). GOV.WALES. https://www.gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time/your-childs-development/understanding-why-your-childs-brain-is-so-amazing

[10]Amin, T. A. (2022, July 20). 10 interesting facts about child’s brain development. Smartivity. https://www.smartivity.in/blogs/future-makers/10-interesting-facts-about-childs-brain-development

[11]Redirecting. (n.d.). https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pediendoclinic.gr/the-brain-gobbles-up-almost-half-of-a-childs-energy-when-this-changes-the-risk-of-obesity-may-increase/%23:~:text%3DAt%2520around%25205%2520years%2520old,higher%2520than%2520the%2520adult%2520brain.&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1742183789080098&usg=AOvVaw39SoXNpG66grJ8d4LFyTo0
[12]Steiner, P. (2019). Brain fuel utilization in the developing brain. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 75(Suppl. 1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.1159/000508054

[13]Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing | GOV.WALES. (n.d.). GOV.WALES. https://www.gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time/your-childs-development/understanding-why-your-childs-brain-is-so-amazing
[14]Brain Growth: 10 Ways to Make Your Child Smarter | Tips and Guides | Morinaga Malaysia. (n.d.). Morinaga Malaysia. https://morinagamilk.com.my/detail-tip-guide.php?article=T2301180412067184

[15]Herrmann, J. (2023, August 7). 10 Interesting things to know about Toddler Brain Development - Learning With Kelsey. Learning With Kelsey. https://learningwithkelsey.com/blogs/news/toddler-brain-development

[16]‘Kids’ sleep linked to brain health. (2024, June 17). NIH News in Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2022/10/kids-sleep-linked-brain-health

[17]10 Facts about Early Childhood Development you need to know! (n.d.). UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/turkiye/en/stories/10-facts-about-early-childhood-development-you-need-know

[18]Symbiotica_Bw. (2022, October 31). The Importance of Nutrition and Brain Development | Brain Workshop. The Brain Workshop. https://www.thebrainworkshop.com/blog/the-importance-of-nutrition-and-brain-development/

[19]Paquette, A. F., Carbone, B. E., Vogel, S., Israel, E., Maria, S. D., Patil, N. P., Sah, S., Chowdhury, D., Kondratiuk, I., Labhart, B., Morrow, A. L., Phillips, S. C., Kuang, C., Hondmann, D., Pandey, N., & Biederer, T. (2023). The human milk component myo -inositol promotes neuronal connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(30). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2221413120

[20]Inositol – Why it is in Morinaga Chil-kid or The Benefits and Functions of Inositol | Tips and Guides | Morinaga Malaysia. (n.d.). Morinaga Malaysia. https://morinagamilk.com.my/detail-tip-guide.php?article=T2407310456131653